Weekend update

Yesterday went really well. It seemed like everything really clicked as the worship began. I taught about how all couples fight and how to deal with it in a Godly way.

This series has been tremendous help in my own marriage as well. I love my wife and am proud to say that we are constantly working on our marriage.

On a different note we have had 19 people give their heart to Jesus during the last 4 weeks of service.

Join us this weekend as we look at Just Do It! We will be examining how our actions and words really connect!

Church Metrics

Introducing ChurchMetrics from ChurchMetrics on Vimeo.


this is going to be awesome, and its free...

Challenging Thought

I am in a coaching group right now with a pastor in New York named Nelson Searcy. He is lead pastor at The Journey Church.

He left a post today that is really convicting for me. Here is the quote.

“We are judged by what we finish, not what we start.”
- Anonymous

Hmm, what are we completing?

Excellence

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit" -Aristotle

We are streamlining things, and simplifying. I believe that excellence honors God with all my heart. Its not perfection, we cant be perfect every time of course, but the consistency needs to be there of our best.

I wrestle personally here, I believe that God is working in me, this thought of "excellence is a habit." If I dont watch myself, I can be lax in areas, and I dont want to be that way any more.

I want to honor God with what I do, what the church does, how we respond, how we deal with guests, how we help believers grow in faith, how we impact our community. (maybe grammatical sentence structure is an area I can work on as well)

handwriting cards

I am hand writing cards to every guest now. Trying to connect on a more personal level.

Today I wrote out like 9 cards. Doesnt sound like much to you maybe, but hand writing to me is huge. Well I got them all done and ready for Shanna to mail... a few minutes later she told me I wrote them all on the wrong side....

just my luck...

So I am writing them again, as I pray over each card, again...

Hmm, is God trying to get me to pray more?

weekend update

Another fine weekend at JCFC. The weather was great, and cooled off by the time service was over.

We jumped right into the second sermon in the series, www.mymarriageisdead.com called Perfect Seasoning.

There were at least 6 more people who gave their heart to Jesus this week, and I was able to connect with several families on Monday who are receiving some help in their marriage.

We are praying for 100 families to have major changes in their marriage due to this series. It is happening...

I got an email today from a couple in the church. Check this out (I changed the names...)

June and I have really connected with the current series and feel our marriage is already stronger just because we have focused on communication and each other. Without this series I don’t know that we would have taken the time to really talk about the things that we appreciate about each other. June and I have been married for eight years and together for 15 so there is a certain comfort that comes with that much time together. We both just assumed that there was a general understanding of love and appreciation. I know the assumption was correct but there is something far more powerful about taking the time to vocalize our feelings for each other. Like all marriages, we are not perfect, but we are better than we were two weeks ago. Keep up the good work. Can’t wait for the rest!

Keep praying, I am getting emails and hearing lots of talk about marriages becoming more healthy each week.

500th post

My favorite thing to do is baptism. It just doesn't get any better than helping people make that step of getting in the water and symbolizing that their sins are being washed away.

I am moved every time I see a baptism, whether live or video. Tomorrow we show this clip to the whole church.

I cant wait for you all to see it.

New Uncle

We were up yesterday around 4.30 to head to STL to see my sisters new baby boy Titus aka Mr T.

He is doing really well, and adjusting to life outside the womb! We are heading back to good ol Des Moines in a few hours here. Burning up that highway.

weekend update

If you werent there, man you missed it.

I have to say to all our volunteers and team, you guys were outstanding! The day went off amazing. We had 196 in attendance, with at least 6 people giving their life to Christ.

I saw lots of tears during the sermon, as I spoke from Song of Solomon about marriage. We specifically dealt with the way we speak to each other and overcoming insecurities through love!

The band was awesome, Kevin brought us through announcements, I spoke and the band closed out with LifeHouse cover Whatever it Takes. Beautiful.

Thanks again, invite your friends, and pray!

Wide Awake

I am so pumped about tomorrows service. I cant wait to teach tomorrow. I know God is going to use this series to change lives.

Hope to see you all there in a few hours.

Dark Knight

Do I even need to say anything? WOW

Billboard Shot

I've spoken with several families who have seen the Billboards or got a mailer, and they have sparked all kinds of conversations.

Our goal is to see 100 marriages changed. Knowing that conversations are happening nightly thrills my soul. I am praying that trust is strengthened and relationships encouraged.

Pray with me.

My Marriage is Dead

Just wanted to remind everyone to check out www.mymarriageisdead.com this week. The series starts this Sunday. I am telling you that you wont want to miss it.

Invite everyone you know. I have no idea what to expect, I get emails everyday from people who cant wait to be there.

Get ready, get ready, get ready.

Our regular JCFC crew, we will need you to step up this weekend and serve. Come in early, smile and connect with EVERYONE. Make them feel welcome, as you always do.

BTW, we have had well over 5200 visits to the website.